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Love One Another
Andrea Lende • June 20, 2020
John 13: 34-35
Love One Another
You may also listen to the meditation and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Love-One-Another-efmkfm
John 13:34-35
“I give you a new commandment, that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.”
“By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].”
I have read these verses many times in my lifetime.
As I came across them this morning, it gave me pause to consider.
To consider what is happening all around us.
There is clearly a battle raging.
The enemy is at work in our families, our cities, and our nations.
I can control very little of what is happening.
But it is my duty to control what I can.
So, I start with my family.
The Lord said, “love”.
I must love those around me first.
I must put down strife inside of my little world first.
And if I love those around me then I send them out equipped to love others.
As I read the words, “By this shall all know that you are My disciples,” my eyes were opened a little wider.
I’m looking for those operating in love.
I’m also looking at those who are not.
I desire wisdom.
I want my eyes wide open.
I pray the Lord shows me His people.
I also pray for those who aren’t His yet.
The Lord desires that all people come to Him and know Him.
So, my second duty is to pray.
Pray for all people.
Pray for God’s people – that they remain strong.
Pray for those who do not know the Lord yet – pray that they will find Him.
Today I choose to love all people and pray for all people so that all may find the Lord and be filled with His love.
May you find that the Lord will fill you with His love so that you may love those around you and pray for all people.
Daily Word:
O Lord, my God, thank You for Your love. Thank You for sending Your Son so that I may be filled with Your Holy Spirit and be guided by You. Help me love those around me today, Father. Help me love Your People. I pray for all those who don’t know You yet. May they come to know You and love You as their Lord and Savior. May Your wisdom flood my soul so that I act as You would have me act. Help me see through Your eyes, Lord. Help me do all that You have for me to do. Give me courage to stand on Your Word. Strengthen me in every way so that I may be used by You. Set a guard upon my mouth so I do not use my words to tear down. Help me build up another today, Lord. May Your Holy Spirit blow through my soul today. Lead and guide all that I do, Lord. May my thoughts turn to You throughout this day. Help me consider all the wonderful things You have done and set my heart on those things, Lord. Help me love as You love. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM love and desire love for all My people.
Response: Help me love as You do, Lord.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.